Yellowstone-Past and future? (Page 4): It was. Early morning is OK but in a few hours the blizzard of snowmobiles takes over. At least they limit the number allowed per day. The few...

IDguy Loc: Idaho

John from gpwmi wrote:

Really nice head shots. Try going in the off-season and even in the winter. I was there in Jan. '05 and in the morning at an Old Faithful eruption there was another fellow and myself. Winter is a great time for wildlife too.

It was. Early morning is OK but in a few hours the blizzard of snowmobiles takes over. At least they limit the number allowed per day.

The few remaining elk still migrate out of much of the park in winter. And bear are snuggled away for their long winter naps.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

IDguy wrote:

For sure. Tour busses are a big part of the proble... (show quote)

Interesting visits decreased in 2017 and 2018...in part due to those of us who have stopped going. At least we can blame this on Trump...

https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/news/19001.htm

mausernut01 Loc: Columbus Montana

wdcarrier wrote:

We can close this case for many by having you take a look at this NPS photo. The subject in the foreground is a female grizzly bear.

Man, that is dangerous! A female Grizzly with cubs surrounded by people and vehicles is a recipe for danger! I have been to the park 100's of times and have never seen anything like that! Close to that. but not involving Grizzlies.
.

Ken

John from gpwmi Loc: Michigan

True all aren't available, but wolves, bison and coyote are there. We were with a small nature/wildlife group. We spent early mornings and late afternoons in Lamar Valley. No one else around and complete silence, except for the howls of wolves, which we could see up on the ridges on both sides of the valley. Awesome experience.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

John from gpwmi wrote:

True all aren't available, but wolves, bison and coyote are there. We were with a small nature/wildlife group. We spent early mornings and late afternoons in Lamar Valley. No one else around and complete silence, except for the howls of wolves, which we could see up on the ridges on both sides of the valley. Awesome experience.

Before the wolves Lamar valley was a major sanctuary. Now it is hot spot for people hoping to see wolves.

Wolves have reduced the coyote too. Next in line when elk migrate out. And they seem generally annoy wolves.

You can often see antelope there as well, although maybe not in winter, and even mountain goats near northeast entrance.

John from gpwmi Loc: Michigan

Haven't been there recently, but wolves out in the open do attract wolf watchers. I'll admit to being one of them. The Lamar valley is still a wildlife sanctuary in a more natural wildlife balance. It is truly a beautiful and unique place. An interesting fact is that the Upper Peninsula of Michigan has three time as many wolves as Yellowstone, but they're hidden in the remote forests and seldom seen. In fact, the Great Lakes population in northern Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan is over 3000, but all are forest dwellers surviving on elk, moose and deer. There is no invasion of wolf-watchers because the wolves are so scattered and hard to find.

dick ranez

Since my first trip to Yellowstone in 1952, the changes there echo the changes in the country - too many people, too many cars, increasing disrespect for "rules" and and a loss of the sense of wonder.

leeinalex Loc: CA

wow, these are some absolutely terrific pictures!! never been to yellowstone but now i just might.

Mr Bill 2011 Loc: southern Indiana

[quote=wdcarrier]My first trip to Yellowstone was in 1969. I started going there for photography in 1976 and my last (and likely final) trip was in 2016. The mile long traffic backups on the roads when an elk, bison or bear is sighted; the over-crowded parking lots for motor homes at the junctions had replaced the near solitude I had experienced years before; and tourists with cell phones trying to get selfies cuddling up to bull bison or bears with cubs. Sadly, we are loving our national parks to death.]

Doesn't matter where I've been this year, whether national park or local zoo, everything is just overrun by touristy types who act like they've never seen an animal wilder than a backyard squirrel!

Patsworld Loc: Idaho

wdcarrier wrote:

My first trip to Yellowstone was in 1969. I start... (show quote)

Great memorabilia

redtooth

I have found that : People unintentionally destroy what they went to a place to find . Yellowstone is a perfect example . Prepare brother the day is coming when entrance to the national parks will be on an allotment basis per day . Just look at the Wave in southern Utah , only 25 or so people per day are allowed in that area . Worldwide tourism had hit the U.S .

wdcarrier Loc: Eureka, California

redtooth wrote:

I have found that : People unintentionally destroy what they went to a place to find . Yellowstone is a perfect example . Prepare brother the day is coming when entrance to the national parks will be on an allotment basis per day . Just look at the Wave in southern Utah , only 25 or so people per day are allowed in that area . Worldwide tourism had hit the U.S .

I can’t go to a Celine Dion concert whenever I want to; I can’t tour the Sistine Chapel whenever I want to; I can’t raft down the Grand Canyon whenever I want to. Opportunities for these, and many other experiences are limited to preserve the quality of the experience, thus one must pay, plan and wait their turn. The same consideration needs to be applied to our national parks.

Dirtmama834 Loc: Hurricane, Utah

People can sure be stupid...but I am more concerned as to why a mother grizzly would walk right through cars and people with her cubs. I am sure the cars didn't just swarm in the matter of seconds. They had to have been parked there already. Her behavior doesn't seem to be typical, in my opinion. Seems like she would be running the other way.

mausernut01 Loc: Columbus Montana

You would be surprised how fast cars can cause a "bear Jam" in Yellowstone. It kind of goes like this--first car sees the bear an her cubs heading across a meadow towards whatever her destination is, and "first car stops to watch. Pretty soon a dozen or more other cars come along one at a time and stop to see what everybody is looking at thus creating a scene like pictured. The mother bear and her cubs keep going where they were heading because they can. They own this place. Especially Grizzlies. Also, there are not many bears in Yellowstone that haven't had human food tossed at them and they kinda like it.
Many years ago, the "bear Jams" got so bad that many bears were removed to the back country of the park. Many didn't return for whatever reason?? For a period of time there wasn't a bear jam in the park.
I think there might be a time when visitor numbers are limited.
If visitors could pick the best time to visit Yellowstone it would be in the Fall---more animals out doing what animals do, and fewer people watching them do it!
Ken

papaluv4gd Loc: durham,ct

Spent time working /living between s.w. Wyoming, and n.w. Montana in my younger days. I too had noticed the degradation of the solitude and peacefulness of the park even back in the late 70's. Made 1 last trip through in '81. Never again. The mass of humanity was staggering. The stupidity level beyond comprehension. Very sad.